Isner Takes Down Blake in All American Battle at Legg Mason Classic
The 11th-seeded American John Isner got past his doubles partner and fellow American James Blake, 7-6 (0), 1-6, 7-6 (4) in Washington, D.C. in Thursday action at the Legg Mason Classic. Isner hit 13 aces and overcame 46 unforced errors, including seven double-faults, to beat Blake for the second time in a span of two weeks when he also beat Blake in Atlanta. Awaiting Isner is the number three seed, Viktor Troicki from Serbia. Troicki was victorious over Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 6-3, 6-3.
American Donald Young also reached the quarterfinals on Friday, after his 6-3, 6-3 win over another American, Michael Russell 6-3, 6-3. Young will face the number seven seed, Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus who defeated not one but two opponents on Thursday, first Somdev Devvarman of India, 6-2, 0-6, 7-5, and then the number 12 seed Thomaz Bellucci from Brazil, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Due to rainy weather the previous day, Baghdatis was forced to play twice on Thursday, as did Gael Monfils and Janko Tipsarevic.
In other action on Thursday at the Legg Mason Classic:
â–ºGael Monfils (FRA) defeated Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 6-2, 7-6 (9)
â–ºGael Monfils (FRA) defeated Ryan Sweeting (USA) 6-3, 7-6 (3)
â–ºJanko Tipsarevic (SRB) defeated Michael Berrer (GER) 6-3, 6-4
â–ºJanko Tipsarevic (SRB) defeated Grigor Dimitrov (BLG) 6-4, 6-2.
â–ºFernando Verdasco (ESP) defeated Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-4, 7-5
â–ºRadek Stepanek (CZE) defeated Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
